Neural Dynamics of Heartfulness Meditation: EEG Alpha Modulation Across Experience Levels.

Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) studies consistently associate alpha-band oscillations with relaxation, internalized attention, and sensory disengagement during meditation. However, limited evidence exists on how Heartfulness Meditation (HM), particularly its unique transmission phases, modulates alpha activity across different experience levels.

Purpose: This study investigated experience-dependent modulation of EEG alpha-band power during multiple phases of HM, with a specific focus on transmission and post-meditation periods.

Method: Thirty-three healthy adults were categorized as long-term meditators (LTMs; n = 12), short-term meditators (STMs; n = 11), and non-meditating controls (CGs; n = 10). High-density EEG (129 channels) was recorded across seven consecutive five-minute phases: baseline, meditation (M1, M2), transmission (T1, T2), and post-rest (P1, P2). EEG data were preprocessed using RANSAC-based bad-channel detection and independent component analysis. Alpha power (8-12 Hz) was computed using Welch's method and analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with false discovery rate correction.

Results: A significant Group × Phase × Region interaction (pFDR < 0.05) indicated experience- and phase-dependent alpha modulation. Both LTMs and STMs exhibited higher alpha power than controls, particularly in frontal, parietal, and occipital regions during meditation and post-meditation phases. Effect sizes ranged from small to moderate (Cohen's d = 0.34-0.70). Notably, STMs showed alpha enhancements comparable to LTMs during early meditation.

Conclusion: HM induces region- and phase-specific increases in alpha-band EEG activity, reflecting enhanced internal attention and sensory disengagement. Even short-term practice produces measurable neural changes, underscoring the potential neuroplastic effects of HM.